Page 22 of The Pale Rider
But I wasn’t welcome here just yet. I was a stranger, and these people didn’t know if I would ruin the tranquil life they had carved out here. I had about twenty guns aimed at my head as soon as the gate closed.
A regal-looking woman in her sixties came up and sized me up. I felt like a child who had done something wrong, and she could just reach into my mind and pluck my sin right out of me.
“Who is the stray, Aeron?”
“A precious package who can help me right some wrongs.”
What the fuck?
“Yes, your theory about the water has proven true. We’ve stayed away from certain brands of bottled water on our raids. None of the children have mutated since we took your advice. I know your plan is this big secret. This slip of a thing can help you with that?”
Were people still having children during the apocalypse? Why not? I suppose condoms were scarce, and there wasn’t much else to do. It wasn’t like you could Netflix and chill anymore. All you could do was the chill part. I suppose I’d be getting my chill on too if I had a pack of condoms and more options than a guy who seemed repulsed when he touched me. I’d take my orange cheese for now. Sex was way too much to ask for.
“Yes, she can. We’ll only be here for the night. We need to meet part of my team in Mexico.”
Everyone started moaning and groaning. Cougar just cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Only the night? You usually stay longer.”
“I’ll be back, Cougar. And this time with more than just things to barter.”
“What’s the girl’s name?”
“Speedy.”
“I’ve been saving that item you wanted for when you returned. We actually hit the jackpot in this house we hit, and there was plenty to go around.”
Aeron was grinning like he just heard the best news of his life.
“Good, because I hit the jackpot back in Scooter’s territory and can make the trade worth your while.”
“And Scooter let you leave with it? With a pretty girl with you?”
“Scooter won’t be bothering you anymore.”
“With you, I don’t want to know, but we are grateful, like always. Go get the girl settled, and I’ll send Steven to negotiate the barter.”
Aeron groaned.
“Do you always have to send the one former lawyer when we barter?”
Cougar just grinned.
“Have to make sure the trade is fair. Now, get that sexy ass of yours out of my sight. It’s almost curfew.”
Aeron did that thing where he smacked Meremoth on the ass, and the horse did that disappearing thing. There might be a curfew for humans in Gabriel’s Haven, but they apparently had no problems with a demonic horse on the loose.
Aeron grabbed my hand and started tugging me towards the back of town. His house was way towards the back, and I didn’t need to ask why he had this house. Families were living here, and when Aeron was here, he was usually by himself. They didn’t have to give him a house since he didn’t live here full time. But they did, and it was a one-bedroom with basic necessities if you didn’t count the lack of electricity.
Aeron flung the door open and started lighting some gas camping lamps that were scattered around the place.
“What’s this big mysterious thing you had them searching for?”
“Wait and see.”
“You know I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.”
